Getting Around Nice on a Shoestring Budget

Travelers on a budget might despair that they could never afford to become part of this rich and glitzy atmosphere. However, we have good news Nice can be enjoyed on a shoestring budget as well!

The first good thing about Nice, especially for travelers with limited funds, is that it is along the coast. Nothing quite beats value for money than lying for hours on a sandy white beach, watching the tourists and locals, frolicking in the water and soaking up the atmosphere of this wonderful city. True, the coastline along Nice is arranged in a way that each public beach is alternated with a stretch of private beach, but that shouldn't stop you enjoying yourself. In the height of the season, Nice is the Mecca of jet setting sun seekers, but the beaches are never too crowded to become unbearable.

Eating out in Nice need not cost you an arm and a leg. The city is, of course, home to some of the most expensive restaurants in the world, but if the very name of these establishments causes your heart to miss a beat, head out instead to the more popular locations such as the area around the Palais de Justice. Here you will find a vibrant sidewalk culture of cafes, live bands, eclectic groups of people and a truly Cote d'Azur atmosphere. Order a drink or a light dinner, enjoy the vibe and the music and while away the hours by simply watching the crowds go by.

Stick to eating establishments that specialize in hearty, wholesome Provencal food, which is both filling and cheap. You will still be experiencing local cuisine but for a fraction of the price compared to top name restaurants in the city. The hospitality at Provencal restaurants also tends to be better and you can learn firsthand from cooks and caf owners about the real gems that are to be found in Nice.

If you're tired of eating and sun worshipping, and want to bring a cultural element into your trip, try visiting some of Nice's free attractions. A popular excursion could be to the outside gardens of the city's Asian Arts Museum, situated at the end of the Promenade des Anglaises. Here visitors can enjoy the beauty of the Phoenix Gardens, including its famous greenhouse and black swans. If you are around Nice on the first or third Sunday of the month, you can enter the city's Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art at no cost and enjoy some of the works of nouveau realist painters such as Lichtenstein and Warhol.

Accommodation in Nice can be really, really expensive but it doesn't have to be! There are many options for visitors to find budget accommodation in Nice, ranging from the many campgrounds dotted on the outskirts of the city, to apartment rental and cheap hostels and hotels. Look out for accommodation with character: Many private individuals have converted old, historic buildings into cheap accommodation and this is a great way to get a feel for the wonderful architecture of the region. Nothing quite beats waking up to high ceilings, the smell of French coffee and baguette wafting up from the boulangerie in the streets below and knowing that you didn't have to pay a whole year's salary to enjoy such a great experience!